Jennifer Clark wrote a new post, Blog post #1 Jennifer Clark, on the site LawandSociety 8 years, 9 months ago

Jennifer Clark wrote a new post, A New Law Gives Hope to an Inmate on Death Row http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/us/a-new-law-gives-hope-to-an-inmate-on-death-row.html?pagewanted=all This article explores how scientific advancements call for new adjustments in our criminal justice system. Forensic sciences is ever evolving and in cases where these advancements can change the ruling of the courts decisions, maybe these cases need to be revisited. Mr. Robert Avila is an inmate on death row charged with murdering his girlfriends baby while babysitting one evening. Recently Texas lawmakers approved Senate Bill 344 that allows courts to grant new trials in cases where forensic science has evolved. This pertains to Mr.Avila who has been charged with the death penalty, now a decade later his lawyers, ” filed a motion under the new statute arguing that recent developments in biomechanical science that were unavailable at the time of their client’s 2001 trial indicate that Nicholas Macia’s death may have been the result of an accident.” This raises a good point in Mr. Avila’s case that over a decade ago the jury was left to make decisions on whether the trauma was an accident or result of Mr. Avila’s actions based on scientific evidence that was incomplete. The passing of S.B. 344 in Texas creates a model for other states to update their laws to accommodate advancements in science that can provide new perspectives on past convictions. I believe the criminal justice system needs to adopt this philosophy, and allow cases to be revisited when new technology is capable of shedding more light onto criminal cases. It makes perfect sense to allow offenders to have a fair shot at defending themselves when new advancements are made, especially when they are given the death penalty. State Senator John Whitmire states it correctly when he says,” We should always be certain, obviously in more extreme cases of the death penalty being the outcome, that you have the right person.”A New Law Gives Hope to an Inmate on Death Row http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/us/a-new-law-gives-hope-to-an-inmate-on-death-row.html?pagewanted=all This article explores how scientific advancements call for new adjustments in our criminal justice system. Forensic sciences is ever evolving and in cases where these advancements can change the ruling of the courts decisions, maybe these cases need to be revisited. Mr. Robert Avila is an inmate on death row charged with murdering his girlfriends baby while babysitting one evening. Recently Texas lawmakers approved Senate Bill 344 that allows courts to grant new trials in cases where forensic science has evolved. This pertains to Mr.Avila who has been charged with the death penalty, now a decade later his lawyers, ” filed a motion under the new statute arguing that recent developments in biomechanical science that were unavailable at the time of their client’s 2001 trial indicate that Nicholas Macia’s death may have been the result of an accident.” This raises a good point in Mr. Avila’s case that over a decade ago the jury was left to make decisions on whether the trauma was an accident or result of Mr. Avila’s actions based on scientific evidence that was incomplete. The passing of S.B. 344 in Texas creates a model for other states to update their laws to accommodate advancements in science that can provide new perspectives on past convictions. I believe the criminal justice system needs to adopt this philosophy, and allow cases to be revisited when new technology is capable of shedding more light onto criminal cases. It makes perfect sense to allow offenders to have a fair shot at defending themselves when new advancements are made, especially when they are given the death penalty. State Senator John Whitmire states it correctly when he says,” We should always be certain, obviously in more extreme cases of the death penalty being the outcome, that you have the right person.”, on the site LawandSociety 8 years, 9 months ago